Myers’ clutch hit lifts Rays past Sox
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wil Myers hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning, and Tampa Bay beat Boston 4-3 on Thursday night to avoid a three-game sweep.
Myers drove in Evan Longoria, who also doubled off Rubby De La Rosa, to give the Rays a 4-3 lead.
Jake McGee pitched a scoreless eighth before Fernando Rodney got three outs to earn his 34th save. The Rays lead the crowded race for the second American League wild card despite going 5-13 since Aug. 25.
David Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered for Boston, which has an 8½-game advantage over second-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.
The Red Sox threatened in the ninth when Stephen Drew had an infield single and pinch hitter Mike Carp walked with one out. Rodney worked out of the jam when pinch hitter Will Middlebrooks lined out to third and Dustin Pedroia popped out to end the game. YANKEES6, ORIOLES5
Mark Reynolds and Curtis Granderson homered, Brendan Ryan scored the tiebreaking run in the ninth inning on a wild pitch by Jim Johnson, and New York overcame blowing a four-run lead to win at Baltimore. BREWERS5, CARDINALS 3
Tyler Thornburg threw six solid innings, and Sean Halton homered to help visiting Milwaukee snap St. Louis’ five-game winning streak, dropping it into a tie with Pittsburgh for the top spot in the NL Central. ATHLETICS8, TWINS2
Josh Reddick homered and had three RBIs to back A.J. Griffin, who allowed just two hits in seven innings to help Oakland win at Minnesota and increase its lead in the American League West to 3½ games over idle Texas. ANGELS4, BLUEJAYS3
Garrett Richards pitched 62⁄ innings for his third straight win, Kole Calhoun hit a solo home run, and Los Angeles won at Toronto to complete a three-game sweep.
Jose Reyes homered and finished 4-for-4 with a walk, but the Blue Jays lost for the 29th time when scoring first. PHILLIES10, PADRES5
Carlos Ruiz had three hits and three RBIs, while Cesar Hernandez reached base four times, scored twice and drove in two runs as host Philadelphia used a six-run first inning to cruise past San Diego. PIRATES3, CUBS1
Jordy Mercer went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in support of Jeff Locke, who allowed three hits over seven innings to earn his first victory in nearly two months as
Pittsburgh won at home. BRAVES6, MARLINS1
Freddie Freeman had three hits on his 24th birthday, and Freddy Garcia earned his second NL victory since 2007 and first since joining Atlanta last month, pitching six innings in a win at Miami. NATIONALS 7, METS2
Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Wilson Ramos homered off Aaron Harang in his Mets debut, and Washington completed a four-game sweep with a win at New York.
The Mets have lost nine of 11 and fallen to 64-81, ensuring a non-winning record in all five seasons at Citi Field.